Dickens in the Summer? Yikes.
When I was in elementary school, the concept of summer reading consisted of visiting the library (or getting as a gift!) the latest Nancy Drew, Bobbsey Twins or Trixie Belden and devouring its deliciousness four or five times each. But when I started high school, I discovered that “delicious” doesn’t always apply to summer books.
I went to a very traditional Catholic school which took its literature seriously. During the summer before my freshman year, I was assigned a book, the length of which was beyond any of my previous experiences – Great Expectations.
As an adult, I can appreciate that it might be advantageous to eventually read some Dickens, but as a thirteen year old, I gulped and silently wished for my girl adventure stories. Despite my previous notability as a “smart student,” Great Expectations seemed to belie that. It was tough for me, mainly because I found it pretty boring.
Fast forward to now, when our students are assigned books that are somewhat more engaging (although it amazes me that middle school teachers haven’t found alternatives to Hatchet and Island of the Blue Dolphins over the past 25 years). But students mostly read these novels during the school year. I don’t remember that any of my millennial children were assigned reading during the summer.
Given my uncomfortable experience with Dickens, one might wonder why I have any nostalgia for a prescribed book when children are supposed to be on vacation, “resting.” I guess the answer is precisely that. Reading is resting! An enjoyable book gives the brain precious time to relax and immerse itself in another world that’s a break from the often stressful one we live in every day.
Yes, I understand that children don’t read anymore – and that’s a topic for another time. But I also think we don’t have to capitulate to that. Motivating our students to pick up a book during the summer may be the best favor we can do for them.
If we don’t give it a try, they will never know the joy of beach reading, or sitting on a porch with a cold drink and a book, or winding down your brain in bed after a fun day outside.
There are probably hundreds of ways to encourage our kids to read, and that, too is a topic for another day. But for now, suffice it to say that summer reading is something to cherish and, if we can, preserve for our young people so they will know its joy.
